Friday, 19 August 2011

Well it's been a rather quiet week considering there are 13 days until the transfer window closes and we've got several wheelbarrows full of cash which we can't fit into a vault at the Armory. At the moment that cash is sat in the manager's lounge at the Grove. Ivan Gazidis has placed it there to make it very visible to Arsene Wenger we have cash to spend. Whether the Frenchman will do anything with it other than ask his daughter to count it is debatable.

There has been a fresh injury update ahead of this morning's press conference with the manager regarding our injury situation. Kieran Gibbs definately misses the match this weekend along with Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby, Gervinho and Alex Song.

There are concerns over the fitness of Tomas Rosicky and Armand Traore, who both could still play. They'll no doubt face late fitness tests. Johan Djourou's injury isn't as bad as first feared and he could be involved as well.

Who would have thought we'd be waiting for good news on the fitness of Traore and Rosicky at the end of last season? Many would have thought they would be no where near the team this season if honest.

Some transfer news has dropped into my inbox over night from France.

Sochaux's president Alexandre Lacombe has claimed that no bid has been made for French international Marvin Martin, except from Lille in July. Arsenal have said to have stepped up their interest in the player following the sale of Cesc Fabregas. Martin won't cause any trouble to force a move but would love to join Arsenal. A bid of around €11m in cash could tempt them.

Lacombe said the door is now closed for any move involving any of his players. However with Modibo Maïga trying to force a move to Newcastle, it could be that his hand could be forced by the player. Several French journalists are convinced Arsenal have made a bid for another Sochaux player Kevin Anin. He's a 25-years-old mostly defensive midfielder, who is a product of the very successful Le Havre Academy.

Meanwhile Marseille's Sporting Director Jose Anigo has said that only Mathieu Valbuena will be allowed to leave. Neither Arsenal linked Andre Ayew or Lucho Gonzales will be sold this window.

Anigo has also claimed he's not received any bids for any of his players which conflicts with what several French journalists are hearing. Ayews's agents are briefing the media that their client has received an offer from Arsenal and is ready to force through a move. Ghanian international has a €13m which was in place until Monday but his agents have briefed that even though the date has now passed, it shouldn't be a reason for a possible transfer to fail.

The Sun claim Arsenal could be the beneficiaries of any Everton fire sale after details of the Merseyside club's financial problems were leaked to the media seemingly by the club's bank who are owed around £25m.

The bank must clearly be desperate for its money back and have proposed that Everton sell several of their salable assets who include Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini and Tim Howard. And after Everton stood firm last summer and refused to sell Mikel Arteta, it seems the bank are trying to force the club's hand and make it known they need the cash.

I think I would take Jagielka, Baines, Fellaini and Howard in a flash if I'm honest. They would considerably improve our threadbare squad.

Elsewhere the Daily Mail say Chelsea are going back to Valencia for Juan Mata with an improved £29m offer. So it does now seem quite plausable that we're no longer in the running for him, especially as he'll cost nearly as much as Fabregas cost Barcelona.

If you haven't had chance to read it already, have a look at our tactical analysis of Alex Song's role in the team on Tuesday night and how it wasn't helped because of the Aaron Ramsey / Tomas Rosicky partnership.

And finally my heart is bleeding for Samir Nasri who has let it be known he'd rather be joining Manchester United rather than City. I'm sure the £200k a week will help soften the blow. Reports that Arsenal had agreed a deal with the Middle Eastlanders are premature. I understand the hold up is down to the clubs haggerling over how much money will be paid up front and Arsenal are keen to reduce the amount City will pay in bonuses of the £23m fee.